SYSTEM FOR RESTRAINING ARTICLES IN A VEHICLE
An article containment system is provided for restricting the movement of articles positioned on a support surface of a vehicle. The system includes a plurality of panels configured to be attached to the support surface such that each of the panels is movable from a stowed position to an up position in which the panel is substantially perpendicular to the support surface; a first position maintaining element configured to hold a first panel in the up position and configured to allow the first panel to move to the stowed position; and a second position maintaining element configured to hold a second panel in the up position and configured to allow the second panel to move to the stowed position.
The invention is directed to an apparatus for controlling the location of articles in a vehicle, and, more particularly, to an apparatus for mounting on the back of the seat back of a folding seat in a vehicle.
An example of an application for the invention is a collapsible set of partitions that are mounted to the back of the seat back of a folding seat in a pickup truck or sport utility vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, and other vehicles have seats that fold down flat to create storage space for articles. For example, the rear seats in a crew cab pickup truck often fold down to create a flat surface on which articles can be placed. Especially in full size pickup trucks, this flat surface can be very large. Often articles that are much smaller than the flat surface are placed on the flat surface for transport. These small articles can move significantly during transport due to the lack of constraint imposed on the articles. For example, grocery bags containing groceries can shift and/or tip over during transport, resulting in groceries being strewn about all over the flat surface. This results in the inconvenience of having to put the articles back into the grocery bags after arriving at the destination. In some cases, the articles can be broken or damaged as they move around. Also, in most vehicles there are areas surrounding the flat surface into which the small articles can fall, often resulting in the articles falling onto the ground when the truck doors are opened.
SUMMARYThe invention recognizes that it is desirable to provide an apparatus or system to control the movement of articles placed on the surface created by the back of seat backs of folding seats in a pickup truck, sport utility vehicle, or other vehicle. The invention recognizes that it is desirable to provide such a system that can or be removed or fold flat while still mounted to the back of the seat back so that the seat back can be returned to its upright position in order for the seat to be used as a seat.
Particular embodiments of the invention are directed to an article containment system for restricting the movement of articles positioned on a support surface of a vehicle. The system includes a plurality of panels configured to be attached to the support surface such that each of the panels is movable from a stowed position in which the panel is either substantially parallel to the support surface or removed from the support surface, and an up position in which the panel is substantially perpendicular to the support surface; a first position maintaining element configured to hold a first panel of the plurality of panels in the up position and configured to allow the first panel to move to the stowed position; and a second position maintaining element configured to hold a second panel of the plurality of panels in the up position and configured to allow the second panel to move to the stowed position. The first position maintaining element is either attached to the first panel or is configured to be attached to the support surface of the vehicle, and the second position maintaining element is either attached to the second panel or is configured to be attached to the support surface of the vehicle.
Other embodiments of the invention are directed to an article containment system for restricting the movement of articles in a vehicle. The system includes a support surface configured to be attached to the vehicle; a plurality of panels configured to be attached to the support surface such that each of the panels is movable from a stowed position in which the panel is either substantially parallel to the support surface or removed from the support surface, and an up position in which the panel is substantially perpendicular to the support surface; a first position maintaining element configured to hold a first panel of the plurality of panels in the up position and configured to allow the first panel to move to the stowed position; and a second position maintaining element configured to hold a second panel of the plurality of panels in the up position and configured to allow the second panel to move to the stowed position. The first position maintaining element is attached to the support surface of the vehicle, and the second position maintaining element is attached to the support surface of the vehicle.
The following figures form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the disclosed features and functions, and should not be used to limit or define the disclosed features and functions. Consequently, a more complete understanding of the exemplary embodiments and further features and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
System 10 can be useful in restraining the movement of articles that are much smaller than the support surface.
In this example, first panel 100 is flush with the upper surface of support surface 1 when it is in the stowed position.
By providing a plurality of panels, this example provides a system that can form a small restrained area or a larger restrained area.
The examples shown are shown on a single seat back. The system can be on one seat back or multiple seat backs. For example, a split rear seat in a pickup truck can has a separate system on each seat back. Also, an SUV can have a separate system on each seat back and another system (or systems) located on the horizontal surface of the cargo area behind the rear most seat. The telescoping panel shown in
Although the embodiments shown show four walls being deployed to restrain articles, only one wall or only two walls or only three walls can be deployed to restrain larger articles. A surface of the vehicle, such as a door or other body surface, can be used in conjunction with the panel(s) to restrain the articles.
It is noted that features of one exemplary embodiment may be combined with other embodiments. A non-exclusive example is that telescoping walls may be used with other embodiments, including any of the shown embodiments. Another non-exclusive example is that one or more of the removable walls shown in
It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the invention.
Claims
1. An article containment system for restricting the movement of articles positioned on a support surface of a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a plurality of panels configured to be attached to the support surface such that each of the panels is movable from a stowed position in which the panel is either substantially parallel to the support surface or removed from the support surface, and an up position in which the panel is substantially perpendicular to the support surface;
- a first position maintaining element configured to hold a first panel of the plurality of panels in the up position and configured to allow the first panel to move to the stowed position; and
- a second position maintaining element configured to hold a second panel of the plurality of panels in the up position and configured to allow the second panel to move to the stowed position,
- wherein the first position maintaining element is either attached to the first panel or is configured to be attached to the support surface of the vehicle, and
- the second position maintaining element is either attached to the second panel or is configured to be attached to the support surface of the vehicle.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein
- the plurality of panels are configured to be pivotably attached to the support surface such that each of the panels is pivotable relative to the support surface between the stowed position in which the panel is substantially parallel to the support surface, and the up position,
- the first position maintaining element is attached to the first panel, and
- the second position maintaining element is attached to the second panel.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a first retaining element that holds the first panel in the down position.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first retaining element is the first position maintaining element.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the first panel overlaps at least a portion of the second panel when the first panel and the second panel are in the stowed position.
6. The system of claim 2, further comprising a third position maintaining element attached to a third panel of the plurality of panels, the third position maintaining element having a deployed position in which the third position maintaining element holds the third panel in the up position, and a released position in which the third position maintaining element allows the third panel to move to the stowed position.
7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a fourth position maintaining element attached to a fourth panel of the plurality of panels, the fourth position maintaining element having a deployed position in which the fourth position maintaining element holds the fourth panel in the up position, and a released position in which the fourth position maintaining element allows the fourth panel to move to the stowed position.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the second panel overlaps at least a portion of the third panel when the second panel and the third panel are in the stowed position, and
- at least a portion of the third panel overlaps at least a portion of the fourth panel when the third panel and the fourth panel are in the stowed position.
9. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the panels is independently pivotable relative to the support surface between the stowed position and the up position.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first panel has a first section and a second section, and the second section slides relative to the first section.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second section telescopes into the first section.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first panel, the second panel, the third panel, the fourth panel, the first position maintaining element, the second position maintaining element, the third position maintaining element, and the fourth position maintaining element are configured to be attachable to and detachable from the support surface as a single unit.
13. An article containment system for restricting the movement of articles in a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a support surface configured to be attached to the vehicle;
- a plurality of panels configured to be attached to the support surface such that each of the panels is movable from a stowed position in which the panel is either substantially parallel to the support surface or removed from the support surface, and an up position in which the panel is substantially perpendicular to the support surface;
- a first position maintaining element configured to hold a first panel of the plurality of panels in the up position and configured to allow the first panel to move to the stowed position; and
- a second position maintaining element configured to hold a second panel of the plurality of panels in the up position and configured to allow the second panel to move to the stowed position,
- wherein the first position maintaining element is attached to the support surface of the vehicle, and
- the second position maintaining element is attached to the support surface of the vehicle.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein
- the plurality of panels are pivotably attached to the support surface such that each of the panels is pivotable relative to the support surface between the stowed position in which the panel is substantially parallel to the support surface, and the up position,
- the first position maintaining element is attached to the first panel, and
- the second position maintaining element is attached to the second panel.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the support surface is a rear surface of a movable seat back of the vehicle, the rear surface being a surface opposite a surface of the seat back that is contacted by a back of a user of the seat when the user is seated in the seat, and
- the seat back is movable between a usable position in which the seat back is usable as a part of a seat, and a stowed position in which the support surface is substantially horizontal.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the support surface includes a first recess, and the first panel is positioned within the first recess when the first panel is in the stowed position.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the support surface includes a second recess,
- the second panel is positioned within the second recess when the second panel is in the down position,
- the second recess is deeper than at least a portion of the first recess, and
- at least a portion of the first panel overlaps at least a portion of the second panel when the first panel and the second panel are in the stowed position.
18. The system of claim 13, wherein the first position maintaining element is a first recess in the support surface of the vehicle,
- the second position maintaining element is a second recess in the support surface of the vehicle,
- the first panel is held in the up position when the first panel is inserted into the first recess,
- the second panel is held in the up position when the second panel is inserted into the second recess,
- the first panel is movable to the stowed position when the first panel is removed from the first recess, and
- the second panel is movable to the stowed position when the second panel is removed from the second recess.
19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of first recesses.
20. The system of claim 18, further comprising a panel storage device, the panel storage device holding the plurality of panels in the stowed position and being configured to be attached to the vehicle.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 18, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 21, 2013
Inventor: Stuart Ian Smith (Oakton, VA)
Application Number: 13/235,384
International Classification: B60N 2/36 (20060101); B60N 2/20 (20060101); B60N 2/30 (20060101); B60P 7/135 (20060101);